The front lawns are slowly browning in Nhulunbuy as the Northern Territory mining town's exodus continues. Houses are sitting empty following the loss of more than 1,000 jobs at Rio Tinto's nearby Gove alumina refinery.

Tony Abbott will face fresh questions about the federal budget and spending on Indigenous affairs when he touches down in north-east Arnhem Land on Sunday at the start of a week-long trip to the Top End.